The Nile River Valley

Settling the Nile• Earliest Egyptians move into the Nile River Valley from less fertile

areas. They farmed and built villages along the riverbanks.• ______________– longest river in the world (4,000 miles)

– Used it for water, farming, bathing and fishing

– Narrow green valley in Egypt.

– Nile Delta, fertile area at end of river

Settling the Nile continued

• The ____________, the largest desert in the world, lies west of the Nile Valley

• Egypt had several natural borders to protect them – West – Sahara desert

– East – Eastern desert

– South – dangerous rapids

– North – Mediterranean Sea

The River People

• Floods along Nile River predictable. Left behind dark fertile soil along its banks.

• Farmer grew wheat, barley and flax seeds.• Irrigation canals• _____________, a reed plant that grew along the Nile, was used to

make baskets, sandals, and paper.• __________________ – Egyptian system of writing consisting of

thousands of picture symbols.• Some Egyptian men learned to read and write – attended schools to

become scribes.

The United Egypt

• Since the people of Egypt had a surplus of food, some people became artisans instead of farmers.

• Egyptians traded with each other and with others in Mesopotamia• Strong chiefs united villages into kingdoms. Eventually, stronger

kingdoms overpowered weaker ones.– Two Kingdoms emerged:

• Lower Egypt• Upper Egypt

• _________ –united the two kingdoms and ruled from the city of Memphis.

• His descendants passed the ruling power from father to son to grandson, forming a _________________.

• Ancient Egypt was ruled by 31 dynasties that historians have grouped into three time periods: ____________, _______________, ___________________

Early Egyptian LifePharaoh

Ruling Class clergy,Royal family

Merchants,Artisans,Scribes

Farmers

Slaves

• _____________ had more rights in Egypt than in any other ancient civilizations

• Women could own property, buy and sell goods, make wills, obtain divorces.

• Few children went to school in ancient Egypt

• Egyptian girls learned how sew, cook, and run a household. Boys learned to farm or a skilled trade.

Social Class Division

Upper Class

Middle Class

Lower Class

Egypt’s Old Kingdom

Old Kingdom Rulers• The Old Kingdom lasted from about 2600 B.C. until about 2300 B.C.• _____________ were all-powerful Egyptian kings who guided every

activity in Egypt.• Pharaohs appointed officials to carry out their commands• Pharaohs were the son of ____, the sun god. They thought

pharaohs were gods on earth.

Ch.2 Sec.2

Egypt’s Religion• Egyptians believed in many gods and goddesses, or ______.

These deities controlled every human activity and all natural forces.• ____ – sun god; _______– god of the Nile River; ______ – god of

fertility• Egyptians believed in life after death. The Book of the Dead

contained a collection of spells that Egyptians believed they needed to enter the afterlife.

The Afterlife

• Egyptians believed in the afterlife, or life after death.

• Humans as well as some animals had to be prepared for the afterlife

• ____________________ – The process of removing organs and treating the body with chemicals for preservation.

• Jewelry, tools, weapons, figures, etc. would be place in the tomb so they could use it in the “next” life.•The soul of the person deceased would be weighed against the sacred feather, symbol for truth.

• _______________ process

Science, Math, and Medicine

• Solar calendar – “________” – star that appeared before the annual flood

• Developed number system based on “____” – Decimal System today

• Diagnosed diseases; created remedies for cures; set broken bones, wrote the 1st medical book

The Great Pyramids• Egyptians built ___________ to protect the bodies of dead

pharaohs.• Pyramids to thousands of people and years of work to complete• They used astronomy and mathematics to create pyramids.• While studying the sky, Egyptians developed the 365 day calendar

that we use today.• The Great Pyramid is the largest pyramid in Egypt. It was built for

King Khufu and it is located near Cairo.

Built during Old Kingdom

Egyptian Tombs

Valley of the Kings

The Middle Kingdom

• Pharaohs lost control of Egypt in about 2300 B.C. A new dynasty of pharaohs created a capital at _________. This began the Middle Kingdom.

• A time of stability, prosperity and achievement• Arts, literature and architecture blossomed.• Middle Kingdom ended when the ________ attacked and

conquered Egypt.• Egyptian prince _________ led a revolt to drive the Hyksos out of

Egypt

The New Kingdom

• Egypt grew richer and more powerful.• _______________was one of the few women rulers.• Trade grew during her rule. Beads, tools, wood, ivory and incense

were traded.• _________________became pharaoh after Hatshepsut died. Egypt

conquered more land and became even richer.• Slavery was very common. They did have some rights: could own

land, marry, and eventually gain freedom

Legacy of Two Pharaohs

• Amenhotep IV (___________ ) came to power in 1370 B.C.• He felt priest were gaining too much power. He introduced a new

religion with one god. Priests who do not follow were removed from power.

• Most refused to follow new religion.• Hittites invaded and greatly reduced their power.• _____________, a.k.a. King Tut, ruled for only 9 years – “Boy King”

– Took power after Akhenaton died

Sarcophagus

Discovered by British Archaeologist Howard Carter

Died at 20 years of age

Treasures of Tutankhamen (8 min)

The End of the New Kingdom

• _______________was one of the most powerful rulers of all of Egypt.

• Under his rule, many temples were built• After Ramses II died, Egyptian influence began to decline.• Egypt was attacked by neighboring groups – Libyans, Kush and

finally the Assyrians

The Civilization of Kush

• Region of ________, later known as Kush, was located south of Egypt on the Nile River

• The 1st people to arrive in Nubia were cattle herders who grazed on the _____________.

• More powerful Nubian villages took control of weaker ones, and the kingdom of __________ was created.

• Egypt invaded Kerma, eventually taking it over.

The Rise of Kush• Nubians broke away from Egypt and formed their own kingdom

called __________.• Ruled from the city of Napata, which was located on the upper Nile

River.• A king named __________ and his son, Piye conquered Egypt in

728 B.C.• The __________ later invaded Egypt and forced out the Kushites.• Kusk moved their ruling city south to the city of Meroe – important

iron working city (learned from the Assyrians)• The kingdom of _______ overthrew Kush and burned it to the

ground.

Kushite Empire 700B.C.